Friction-clutch.



Patented Oct. 24, I899.

A. HERSCHMANN. rmcn'ou c'|.urcH. (Application filed May 6, 18,98.)

4 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

WIN/[SS W W Q M/ No. 635,684. Patented Oct. 24,1899.

A. HERSCHMANN.

FRICTION CLUTCH.

(Application filed May 6, 1898.)

' 4 Sheets5heet 2,

(No Model.)

p E J .N i k *1 R i W a *Q mun No. 635,684. C Patented flct. 24, I899.A. HERSCHMANN.

FRICTION CLUTCH.

(Aiaplication filed May 6, 1898.)

( 0 H BL) 4 Sheets-8haat 3.

' l v'bzesses Q Invenfir A. HERSCHMANN.

FRICTION CLUTCH.

(Application filed my 8, 1898.)

(No Modal.)

Pat outed Oct. 24, I899.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4,

ARTHUR HERSGHMANN, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

FRICTION-CLUTCH.

v SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,684, datedOctober 24, 1899.

Application filed May 6, 1898. Serial No. 679,939. (N0 odeL) T0 at whomit may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR HERSCHMANN, engineer, a subject of theEmperor of Austria- Hungary, residing at 155 Pershore road, Birmingham,England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Friction-Olutches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction offriction-clutches; and its object is to provide a simple and effectivemeans by which such clutches can be put into and out of operativeposition at will and by which the contact between the two portions ofthe clutch is automatically regulated.

In the construction of these clutches I propose to employ cushions ortubes which can be inflated with air or filled with liquid, and thesecushions or tubes bear against shoes or friction-blocks belonging to onepart of the clutch which can press against the other part of the saidclutch when the cushions or tubes are expanded so that connection ismade. These cushions or tubes are inflated or filled automatically andare constantly kept distended while the clutch is in operation.

In order to more clearly describe this invention, reference is had tothe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an elevation, partly insection, of a friction-clutch constructed according to this invention.Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional elevation of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 aresimilar views of a slightlymodified arrangement. Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8are detail views showing further modifications.

Upon the shaft or is fitted a disk at, the outer surface of which servesas a pulley, if required. \Vithin this disk a a disk-like case 1) uponthe other shaft Z) is fitted, and at c c and c c on the periphery ofthis case b friction-blocks may be fitted. Behind these friction-blocksheads 01 d are fitted upon the easings d d attached to the extensions 6e of the casing b,and cushions f, of leather or other suitable material,which can be filled with liquid or air, are arranged in said casings (:161 so that when distended by the liquid or air the heads cl d will beforced outward and by means of the toggle-levers g g g y will press thefriction-blocks c c c c outward slightly radially against the inside ofthe disk (1, this being allowed for by the elasticity and springiness ofthe arms 19 b b 22 and the disk at and the casing b will be causedtoturn together, thus coupling the shafts a I) together.

Within the portion 1) of the casing b a reservoir for the liquid isarranged, and within the portion b a pumpi is fitted, operated by meansof the arm j upon the oscillating spindle j. The spindle j is oscillatedby means of the lever 70, the end It of which engages in the cam-grooveZ of the cam Z upon the shaft a. When the shafts a b are revolvingtogether, there is of course no relative motion between the cam Z uponthe shaft a and the lever k, attached to the casing 1), upon the shaftb; but if there is not sufficient friction between the friction-blocksat c c c c and the disk at the disk a and easing I) move relatively toone another, and the lever will be oscillated by the cam Z to operatethe pump 1. to force liquid into the cushions f until the requiredpressure is attained to press the shoes into engagement with the disk a,and the shafts a I) again revolve together.

Liquid passes by means of the pipe 71 from the reservoir h to the pumpt' and on the outward movement of the plunger t is drawn into the barrelOn the inward stroke the valve m, by which the liquid entered, closes,and the liquid passes through the valve n to a ring 0 of piping, andfrom this ring 0 the liquid passes by means of pipes 13 to the cushionsf. The pipe q is also connected to the ring 0, and liquid can pass backfrom the reservoir h by means of an automatic valve r, to be hereinafterdescribed.

The cushions f are provided with sliding disks f, pins f and springs fby which the heads d are caused to move outward and operate thefriction-blocks at c c c c.

As there may be a tendency for the shafts a b to revolve at too-high aspeed, a controlling device (shown separately in Fig. 8) is provided,acting on the valve 1. A suitablyshaped lever sis pivoted at s and isconnected at s to the valve-spindle r and at s is connected to thespring-rod t, by which it is retained in position under normalconditions; but if the speed becomes too high the lover s swings outwardslightly under the influence of centrifugal force and against the actionof the spring-rod t and causes the valve 1' to open and allow of liquidpassing from the ring back to the reservoir h. The pressure in thecushions f is thus relieved, and the disk 0, and casin g b can rotateindependently until normal conditions are resumed and the pump trestores the pressure necessary to cause the shafts a b to rotatetogether again.

In order to separate the clutch so that one shaft rotates independentlyof the other, a forked lever u, pivoted at u, is operated by means of asuitable external arrangement, which can be moved so as to contact withit when required to disengage the clutch. The forked lever a when thusoperated presses on the arm 3 so as to actuate the lever s and open thevalve '1' to relieve the pressure in the cushions, as above described.To secure the valve 0- in its open position, a spring-blade o is fittedupon the rod 0), and a collar r is formed on the valve-rod r. lVhen therod 7' is moved to open the valve 0", the collar r moves past thespring-blade o, and the rod r-is retained and the valve 0* held open toeffect the disengagement of the clutch. On releasing the collar 4' fromthe springblade o the two portions of the clutch will again engage. Itwill of course be understood that the ordinary movement of the lever 5under the action of centrifugal force is not sufficient to cause thecollar r to move past the springblade 1); but in the event of adangerous i11- crease of speed the collar will pass the springblade 0and the clutch will be retained in its disengaged position. The spring rreturns the valve '1 to its closed position when the valve-rod r isreleased.

The positions of the springblade t and the collar 4' can be adjusted bymeans of the milled heads 12 r.

In Figs. 3 and 4 the parts are somewhat diiferently arranged, thereservoir it being formed around the pump 2', and the admission-valve iswithin the plunger '6. A passage 2' is formed by which liquid passes tothe smaller passage 2''. A ball-valve t is fitted in the larger passaget and on the outward stroke of the plunger 7: liquid passes through thepassages i i past the valve 2' to the pump-barrel i On the inward strokethe valve i closes and liquid is forced through the valve or to theautomatic valve 1' and to the cushions f, as above described. In thisarrangement the pipes 019 g are not used, and their purposes areeffected by the passages o 1) q, formed in the metal frame; also, th'ecam t is formed as a face-cam. A face-cam of a similar description isshown separately in Figs. 5 and 6, the cam-groove in this case beingdouble. A faceplate 10, having a camgroove w, is attached to the surfaceof the disk (4, and the lever is connected to a lever 93, pivoted at :0,and which engages with the groove 20', so as to operate the pump i.

Fig. 4 shows a second arrangement for disengaging the clutch. The leveris pivoted to the casing at 11 and the rod 1', which operated the, valveor cock 0", is connected to this lever at a short distance from itsfulcrum. The lever y is formed with the ex tension 1 which projectsoutwardly from the clutch and is formed at its extremity with the bentpart 3 The lever is also provided with the spring adjustment y whichacts upon the lever so as to keep the valve or cook normally closed. Toactuate the lever y, a swinging arm or lever z is employed, having theweight ,2 at its extremity. This arm is pivoted at e to the shaft hangeror bracket 5 and is formed with the extension .2 to which a chain orother connection 2 is secured. On slacking again the weight 2' causesthe arm to move, and when swung from its normal position it engages withthe turned-up end 3 of the extension The lever y is thus operated andthrough the rod 0' causes the discharge valve or cook to be opened.

Instead of only two sets of friction-blocks, as in the arrangementsillustrated, more than two may be employed, and the pump t' may beoperated several times in each revolution, or more than one pump may hefitted, without departing from this invention.

hen air is employed, no reservoir is needed.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-- 1. In a friction-clutch, a disk upon one of the shafts to beconnected, a casing upon the other shaft and friction-surfaces carriedby the casing and adapted to make contact with the inner surface of thedisk, of cylinders in the casing, plungers in the said cylinders,connections between the plungers and the friction-surfaces,liquid-cushions behind the said plungers, a pump carried by the casing,means for oscillating the said pump when relative motion occurs betweenthe driving and driven parts, a liquid-reservoir in the casing,connections between the reservoir and the liquid -cushions and betweenthe pump and both reservoir and cushions, and a valve actuatedautomatically on excessive speed being attained allowing the liquid toescape from the cushions back to the reservoir, substantially as and forthe purposes specified.

2. In a friction-clutch having friction-surfaces, cushions supplied withfluid-pressure adapted to apply the friction -surfaces, a pump actuatedon relative motion occurring between the driving and driven parts and adischarge-pipe from the cushions, a cock fitted to the discharge-pipe, aspindle operating the said cook, a swinging lever engaging with thespindle and carried by the casingof the clutch, and a spring adjustmentconnected to the lever, the lever being adapted on the attainment ofexcessive speed to open the cock and relieve the cushions, substantiallyas described and for the purposes specified.

3. In a friction-clutch having friction-surfaces, cushions supplied withfluid-pressure to moving beyond a certain position to prevent itsreturn, the Whole constructed and operating substantially as describedand shown and for the purposes specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twoWitnesses.

ARTHUR HERSOHMANN.

In presence of- HENRY H. OLIVER, RICHARD JUDGE.

